A New Year Already?!?

It is hard to believe that it is already 2017! And, halfway through January at that! It's hard to believe Eli is 2 years old now and Liam is 1! I remember time passing so slowly when I was a kid, but the older I have gotten, the faster time has gone.

Obviously since it is January 15, 2017 and my last blog post was October 6, 2016 I should have made a New Year's resolution to be better at blogging, but that didn't happen. I actually made a weight loss resolution... and that isn't happening really either!!!

Anywho, I'm going to skip the yearly wrap up/newletter that I usually do. I've been procrastinating it and it makes me tired to think about. Here are a few updates instead.

All three of my boys are currently bald. They shaved their heads to support Uncle Joshua who is battling his second round of colon cancer.

Eli turned 2 in December. He is very into Sesame Street. Some may say obsessed.

He also loves to read. He often is asking, "Mommy read Eyi!"

And he loves to do any sort of "project". He likes to color, paint, and craft.

Every time we cook, or do dishes, or anything really, Eli has to be right there "helping". He chooses "helping" over playing 99% of the time, but doesn't like to do jobs that are assigned to him.

Eli's latest favorite has been hanging upside down, but he also enjoys running in circles, dumping his toys all over the floor, and jumping off the couch. He practices sitting on the potty too and finds great joy in even the smallest droplet of pee.

Eli is a very active, rambuctious, talkative, stubborn, smart little boy and we love every bit of him.

Liam turned 1 in December!

He doesn't have to be right in the middle of the action like Eli does. He is content to play in the toy room, by himself sometimes too.

He does great at haircuts, which is much different from his brother too!

Liam finally decided he wanted to crawl and is learning stairs now.

He has also started to pull himself up on things and sometimes takes a few steps along whatever he is holding on to.

Liam doesn't enjoy projects too much right now, but maybe they will grow on him?

Liam is a happy, loving, curious, stubborn boy and we love him to pieces!

They love each other too!

Family

Family means EVERYTHING to me. All through my growing up years, I lived minutes away from the majority of my extended family. We visited my grandparents almost every Sunday. We had large family birthday parties and summer cookouts with our cousins. Having family close by was the norm for me. It is what I expected my life to always be like. It is what I dreamed of. I've never been able to imagine my life away from my family. I don't even know how life works without family.

Sadly, my sisters' lives are taking them in different directions.

My older sister, Savanna, and her family moved away to New Mexico a few years ago. We only get to see them about once a year. We get to talk on the phone and Skype, but it just isn't the same.

In less than 2 days, my baby sister, Abby, and her two boys are moving away to Washington D.C. to be reunited with Nate who joined the army about 6 months ago. I know how important family is and I know that they need to be together. I get it, but I can't help but feel like I am losing them!

The dreaded day is quickly approaching and I feel like I am grasping at straws to slow down time or spend as much time with them as possible.

Last weekend, between General Conference sessions, we got together for a special Halloween lunch, art projects, and the inevitable bath that followed.

Today, while Abby worked on moving out of her apartment, they boys came over and Adam and I braved pumpkin projects with all 4 boys! They washed the pumpkins, colored them, and played in pumpkin guts/brains.

Of course it is crazy when we are all together, but we have so much fun and I am really going to miss them!

And I think it is safe to say, that these boys are really going to miss each other too! I pray they can keep some of the memories we tried to create for them. I pray they will always be friends. For now, farewell to the fantastic four.

Sisters, I will try to be strong without you. God be with you til we meet again.

Hello Again

Hello again blogging world. It has been awhile... a long while, but I figure it is about time for an update since it has been 5 months, the children are soundly sleeping, and the laundry is done! Where do I even begin?!

I have an awesome chalkboard that my AwEsOmE sister Abby and brother-in-law Nate made for us. Currently it says, "The days are LONG but the years are short." Isn't it soooo true? I mean look how fast my boys are growing up! And, let's be honest, being a parent can be really crazy (understatement) but small moments like this make it all worth it.

Little Guy Tidbits:

Eli is 21 months now. He is quite a talker, but mostly in private. One of his favorite things to tell me is, "No way!" He likes to sing his own versions of "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam" and "Old MacDonald". He loves his sheep stuffed animal and has to take it with him to nursery.

18 months

Liam is almost 9 months old. The poor boy is getting about 6 teeth right now! One of his favorite activities is rolling himself up in rugs or playing underneath them. He is working on his crawl. Right now it is a one legged army crawl type thing. He is getting a lot better at sitting up too.

6 months

So, what did we do this summer?

Played in the sandbox that daddy built.

Summer walks.

Visiting the zoo.
Playgrounds.
Playing with cousins.
Fourth of July Parade and fireworks.

Trips to Utah.
Tracey Aviary.
Water Parks.

Salt Lake City Pioneer Day parade.
Boating in Jordanelle Reservoir.

Playing in Grandma and Grandpa's yard while it was irrigated like mommy used to do when she was a little girl.

Eli took swimming lessons with daddy.

Gardening and canning.

Haircuts.

Playing in tunnels (Eli thinks going under anything is playing in a tunnel.)

Climbing on the ladder that daddy built.

What will this fall bring?

Spring Travels

The little guys have probably had their fair share of travelling for awhile... grown ups too! First off, we took a last minute road trip with Adam's family to Kanab, UT. We all had adventures driving ten hours in and RV with a 15 month old a three month old and of course trying to sleep in the same RV with the same babies!

Watch out! Eli will steal your Root Beer Float.

We also explored Zion National Park and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes. When we visited the sand dunes, it was Eli's first time playing in sand. He. Was. In. Heaven!

To play in the sand with or without pants is the question (for Eli, not us grown ups)?! We chose without... which resulted in a diaper full of sand and a bum caked in it too...

A week later we climbed back in the car and traveled to Bear Lake to spend conference weekend with Adam's family at the time share. Liam got to go swimming for the first time and also got to visit with some VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE while we were there.

What else have we been doing this spring?

"Keep Eli Busy" Projects.

Helping daddy make St. Patrick's pancakes.

Coloring Easter Eggs.

Yard work.

Celebrating Easter.

Being cute.

Practicing sitting... That needs more work...